Intimate examination teaching with volunteers: implementation and assessment at the University of Antwerp.

OBJECTIVES: Teaching intimate physical examinations in medical schools generates practical, didactical and ethical problems. At the University of Antwerp, a unique program with intimate examination assistants (IEA) was implemented for fifth year's undergraduate students. They learn gynaecological and urological skills in healthy volunteers. Technical, communicative and attitude aspects are taken into account.

METHODS: Description of the implementation of the project. Assessment of the project by questionnaires, written reflections and round table conferences.

RESULTS: The results provide detailed information about the student's perceptions of each component of the program as well as the perceptions of the IEA's and the teachers.

CONCLUSION: The multilevel evaluation of the program supports the surplus value of working with IEA's in medical education. The eye-catcher in this program is the integration of clinical skills with communicative skills and attention for students' attitude.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Working with IEA's for intimate examinations represents a benefit in medical education by lowering the student's threshold to perform the intimate physical examination on both men and women during their fulltime clerkships.